Monthly Archives: July 2006

Technology has taken its fastest strides in last century. We have already started playing god in so many fields. But one thing at last undoes all that we do throughout our lives, our death. Its the ultimate end, the eternal and most peaceful sleep. Over the years, definitions of death have also changed. It used to be the last breath,then last pulse, then the last neuro signal and so on. But ultimately it seems like the last irreversible damage after which a being can no longer have any motivated action on its surroundings. That means that we can as well stretch it through some means to eternity!!!!

Lets define Immortality first. Rene Descartes very wisely put life’s definition as ITTIAM, and it holds to this day. So the main challenge is to make our thoughts live.i.e. Our brain or some artificial equivalent of brain has to live eternally. The rest of the body may be changed or made durable. At present, the most promising steps taken in the direction of immortality are in the fields of Artificial Intelligence, Genetics , Stem Cell Research, Nanotechnology.

Artificial Intelligence– we might in future have machines that are capable of human behaviour and have the gigantic memory that we have.(even the lowest estimates put it to arnd 2-3 TeraBytes which is about a 20 harddisks of a present day computer.The highest is unimaginably high). Apart from that we have the densest network in the known universe in the space between our two temples. And Brain’s compression algorithms beat all the algorithms man has ever designed for storing data neurons down 🙂. Despite all this complexity, in 30yrs or so,we might after all start to make artificial brains. Nano technology may make ckts smaller by a factor of 1000.And Artificial Neural networks would have come close to their natural counterparts.With both these put together its definitely possible. But now comes a huge question. How do we transfer all that our brain has?? First of all even now, very little is known about the way brain stores huge chunks of data. Once we know that, we need to have non-Intrusive scanners that will scan all that our brain has in it. One can’t imagine the data rates at which it will have to do the transfer. Otherwise it might take a year or more considering the huge memory(The poor fellow in the scanner would have died of inactivity by then ;)).

Okkkkkk!!!!, Once all this is done our artificial brain can be plugged to an artificial world where it will live for ever like a software till someone pulls the plug.Yeah!! the same thing in the famous Sci-fi movie Matrix. Ofcourse it will never feel that its not in a real world. In-fact that world can be filled with all kinds of real things minus the so called bad ones like AIDS virus,Mosquitoes,Rodents.etc.Seems like heaven isn’t it? We might have another more real solution too. Clones. We would have perfected the art of preservation of bodies by then. So make ur clone, put it in a freeze till age of 20, by then u will be say, 50, and then put ur brain’s info in the 20 yr old. U r back to youth again!!But be sure u do that with ur spouse too 😉.

Coming to Genetics.We already have a little idea of the genes that cause ageing. What this means is that till now we were programmed by nature to die. And we were also programmed such that we lose all interest to live before we die. That’s why we wear off as we grow old, lose teeth, lose all senses and so on. We might as well modify these genes to suit our needs.The big trick is to modify them so that we age till age of 25 and then stop ageing. Otherwise, we might have eternally living stupid babies only. And one more thing, if u r already even a zygote, this technology even if discovered cannot be of any use to you. So I wonder about trauma the scientist who discovers it will go through. He will die happy if he thinks the Jesus way.

Speaking of the Nano-Technology and Stemcell research, this seems like the most possible solution and most the desirable one too. Stem cells have the capability to convert themselves into any kind of cell.We have already had one scientist,Mr.Hwang Woo Suk, Having made false claims about Human Stem Cells and got his due for that. Lets leave it at that. These cells can be made to grow a complete human body and then go the AI way or can be made to grow parts of human body and then replace the original parts one by one. So our body after every few years will go through a servicing period where in all worn out parts get replaced. The big trick here will be do to do it with neurons. Future may throw some light on that too.The role of Nanotechnology is to help repair body parts using tiny robots that identify ageing parts and repair them. They will be infused in our bloodstream where in they will do all the work. I wonder if they can get small enough to pass through the ever vigilant filter,Kidney. Otherwise they’ll Piss Off everyone, literally!!!. So we will need to program the robots to identify damaged parts,which will be another headache.

So can we or should we hope that all these speculations will be a reality before we pass out of our youth??

Coming soon… One more article on immortality dealing with the effects that it can have on society and individuals and more.

Although my predictions of a German victory came true.The match was heartbreaking for any fan of football other than a German(I had predicted 2-1,but both played double my expectations;)).Germany should have won,thats fine.But Argentina Shouldn’t have lost.No doubt this should have been the final match.Argentina began in a fine fashion and had more of the ball in the beginning.But that never meant Germany were sleeping.The ball possession by Argentina was high,but it was in their own half.Neither sides created good chances for a long time.Defense was excellent on both sides.That left all the attacking chances to some free kicks,Corners or Long distance shots.Ballack had good oppurtunities but couldnt convert them.One header was not directed properly,and then a corner kick that caused quite a lot of panic in the Argentinian defense.But still they stood firm.German goalkeeper dint have much of a job to do in the first half.I think the ball had a tougher time than in any other match so far.Both teams struggled everymoment.Both teams had a nice way of stopping the attacks,screw up the supply,Requelme and Ballack were the most marked men unlike strikers in usual cases.

The second half was an even more exciting affair. Within minute from the kick-off Roberto Ayala sent the ball in to the nets from a Requelmecorner kick.I dont think the goalkeeper had any chance.Infact it wasAyala’s first for Argentina.The match grew hotter.Germany always seemed to be on the way to recovery from then on.But a Rodrigueztackle and shot had nearly managed to finish the game in favour ofArgentina.It hit the side nets and half the stadium roared thinking that it went inside.Amidst all the action,Klose Managed to injure the goalkeeper of Argentina(not deliberate though).so Abbondanzairi abandons;) and Franco comes in for him.Argentina missed Requelme too as he was injured and Cambiasso took his place.In the 81st minute,Ballack chipped the ball on to Podolsky’s head who in turn Flicked it towards Klose and Yo!!! Klose does it again.A header,I was really missing them since Euro 2004.His head seems better than his legs all the time.So Klose kicked the goalkeeper first and then a goal.The next 10 minutes dint yield,neither did the extra 30 minutes.Ballack was battling with his injury so as to stay alive for penalties.Finally Penalty shoot out was declared.Neither side had ever lost a penalty shoot out in World Cup history.One had tonow.The first 2 went smoothly,both sides scored.But Argentina missed the next two(Ayala and Cambiasso).while Germany scored both(Ballackand Podolski).So it was Boroswki’s turn now to finish it for Germany.Andhe finished well.

In conclusion it was heartbreaking exit for Argentina.I think the difference was that,while Germany took all the necessary risks,Argentina did not.Why the hell did Pekerman not get Messi on to the field?

Italy Vs Ukraine:3-0 It was a whitewash for Ukraine.Shevchenko alone cannot workwonders.Italy continued its Unbeaten run(23 now),they were all over Ukraine throughout the match.Bufon did not face any tense moments throughout the first half.In the second half had a scare or two.Italy saw the resurgence of Luca Toni.Scored 2 of the 3.But the best goal was ofcourse that by Zambrotta.A great run down the midfiled and then a seemingly impossible goal with amazing accuracy.The Goalkeeper did have a touch of his fingers on it,but that was not enough.After the first goal the match seemed to have got boring,I was wondering if I could stay awake till the end.Infact at half time i dozed off and missed 34 seconds of the second half.But the second half proved worth the wait.Yellow finally started to dominate.But kudos to Italian defense.They have not conceded any goal till date to their opponents in these finals(The only one they conceded was off the boots of Zaccardo their own boy).And in quick attacks they dispelled all doubts by scoring 2 more. But can they pull off another Italian Job against Germany?Lets see.

Portugal Vs England :0-0 AET,3-1 PSO My predictions for this took a complete turn around.What the hell was that??.Portugal were missing on a few players(including Deco).And yet England managed to play such hapless football.The first problem in their side was the 4-1-4-1 formation.A strong team full of stars(thier midfield star line up beats Brazil too) needs to play in a more attacking formation.Sven Goran Ericksson doesnt agree to this though.He thinks its the same formation that helped England win against Ecuador.I pityhim.If anything won the game for England,it was Beckham’s free kick and the English defense.

And to top it all the 1 in 4-1-4-1,Rooney managed to get a red card shoving his own team-mate in Man U-Ronaldo.Had the whole country prayed for his leg to see this?Very irresponsible behaviour from such a player.Vain Ruiny.He proved to be their Nemesis.The match then on was about the portugese attack and the English defense.England did try somesubstituttions.They dint work too.Beckham also missed out most of the action beacause of an Injury.Another waste fellow in the team isCrouch.The giant’s height nearly ensures him a touch in every free kick,but the conversion rate is pathetic.After 120 tiring minute for English defense and Robinson in particular,The match went on for penalty shoot outs.England continued their pathetic history of losing penalty shoot-outs.All the big names,Steven Gerrard,Frank Lampard(has had 24 shots on goal but scoresheet says zilch) missed.I had bet that Gerrard would score even if the ball were to be 10 more yards away!!.Ricardo did a fine job.3 saves proved he is one of the alltime greats at net.And finally Cristiano Ronaldo took the decider for Portugal and sealed their berth in Semis.So the English finally bowedout.And Scolari is one step closer to another final.

France Vs Brazil:1-0!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Never had I thought that the french would get a victory review.I had thought of an article on Zidane’sfarewell.The so called Zizou never ceases to surprise.I have to delay my article by atleast another match.Orwho knows?if he will French kiss the golden trophy again.The whole thing seems to be too much of a deja vu.1998 finals seemed to be coming liveagain.All the same names,Henry,Zidane,Thuram,Carlos,Ronaldo…. Zidane was seemed like he was in his early 20s.what energy!!!He showed even the Brazilians a trick or two(the stuff that we usually seeRonaldinho doing)and whats more,they were not tricks for the sake of it,they were a part of some brilliant passes.Brazil never seemed to have got the better of France.There were no shots on goal for Brazil for upto 70 minutes of the game.That is easily one of the most pathetic performances by a Brazilian team ever.France had a few nearmisses.Near the end of first half,Viera seemed to be well on the way to a goal,but was brought down.But finally in the 57th minute,Thiery Henrydeflected a free kick from Zidane past Dida and yo!! France lead(In the replay we could spot Roberto Carlos resting his arms on his thighs!! he was supposed to be marking Henry,Henry had no marking at all when he got his leg on the ball).With still more than half an hour to go,things were definitely not going to be easy for France.Despite that,they were the ones who still seemed to be creating more chances.Brazilians never found their form.Robinho came in,Kaka was taken off,but nothing seemed to work.Atlast Referee blew the 90 minute whistle.I think if I were in a spacecraft I would have seen some place west of Germany suddenly erupting in brilliant colors.French continued thier brilliant record against Brazil in World Cup Finals.(they lost to them the last time in Pele’s times-1958).And Brazil go home!!.

Predictions for Semis…

Germany vs Italy–Germany will have a tough time beating the Italiandefense.But i think they should win.May drag on to extra time.

France Vs Portugal– Portugal will win,but I dare not say comfortably.France seem to be breaking all barriers.